Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-05-11
AMONG THE DEAD.
A RAMBLE IN A BoTEToURT CHURCH
YARD.
Senator Glasgow Gives Some Reminis'
cences-Novel Experiences Of Negro
Murderers-Hea Their Flu
neral Sermon.
corro.pondoncs o, The Richmond Dispatch.

Correspondence Of the Richmond Dispstch.l
FINcAsTLE, May 9, 1887.
A duller County Court-day than this
could hardly be found. No business
in court out of court it was no better
Wednesday evening of presbytery
was consumed in hearing excuses from
delegates fornon attendance at the last
meeting and for failure Of ministers to
meet engagements made for them out
side of their regular work. Votes to
excuse the delinquents invariably re-
suited in decision in the affirmative.
J he closest vote was in the case OF Rev.
J. r. Crews. The negative vote con
stIued TO be n piece of pleasantly on
the part of the friends of tho good
natured moderator, for certainly no
one gave better excuse than did the
Lynchburg bishop for failing to meet
his appointment.
The proceedings were certainly grow
ing monotonous, but no one seemed so
much oppressed with the stagnatlon rs
the honorable ex-senator William a.
Glasgow. The elder moved his seat to
where the Dispatch correspondent was
twirling an inactive pencil, and began
his talk by saying " [ promised to tell
you something about the history OF the
spot where the Montgomery Presbytery
is now assembled. You may say that
the land within this enclosure has never
been used for other than religious pur-
poses. In ITO, when Israel Christian
decided TO the gentlemen justices OF
Botetourt the land upon which the
future town of Fincastle was to be
built, dor then there were no buildings
on the site except, perhaps, Miller's mill,
in the western end, where tho earlier
sessions of the court were held and
when shortly afterwards the land was
run off into lots for building purposes
this bill was set aside for religious pur-
POSES. This, of course, was IN the
DAVIS of the Establishment, and minis
ter of the Episcopal Church, gay fell
low be was, too-lies buried beneath
the ground upon which this building ia
erected. The Eriscopalians finally
abandoned all organization, thinking
doubtless that this soil, settled IS it was
so largely by Scotch-Irish, was not con
genial to the propagation Of their faith.
The Presbyterians took quiet posses
sion of this hill and have held it ever
since-an adversary possession of nigh
a century" ("Squatter sovereignty"
/ suPgested.)
1.-The first building erected was a
wooden structure. You have doubtless
heard Charles Carper give the follow
ing "Reminiscences of his boyhood: Some
negroes who had been convicted of
numbering their master were taken to
church before their execution and
listened to their own funeral sermon.
Well, it was in this building that the
incident occurred. Afterwards the
present house "a large brick structure)
was erected.
"In the yard surrounding this house
several generations have been buried
men of all creeds and denominations
The yard is now full of graves You
won't miss anything worth reporting,
50 let us 90 out into the graveyard"
Just to the right as you leave the
church the genial elder pointed out
the tombs Of his own amily-siX gene
rations in all-from his mothers pa
ternal grandfather, Anderson, that
came direct from the north of Ireland,
and his son, Colonel William Ander-
son. and his son, Colonel John 7. An
derson, and his son, Major Joseph W.
Anderson, who was killed in the war
between the States; and so on down to
q grandchild of the narrator.
"Mr. Glasgow, have been told that
the wife of Governor Giles is buried in
this church-yard. Will you point out
her grave ?" 80 yes quite number
of strangers lie buried here. You know
that in the days of the stage coach Fin
castle was on the route to the watering
places of Western Virginia. On their
return the health-seekers would some
times be overtaken by death and find a
last place here. But here is the tomb
of Mrs. Giles. From what | have
learned Of Governor Giles. | am sur
priscd at such an inscription on his
wife's tomb, and he read as follows:
Under Thi. Stone.
Remote from al who knew and loved her,
Lies the Body OF Martha Poyt0n Clos,
Late the wife Of William Il. Giles,
Senator I'm the Congress Of tho L. ;.
Sho was Born October. III, and died July, 1905,
Ia Tho midst Of every earthly blessing,
Beloved by Rich q Poor,
She Died!
Her mind adorned with every Virtue.
Hor person in the full Bloom Of Beauty,
The Darling Of a fond mother,
Tire Pride OF Aiectionate Relations,
The Delight Of admlring Friends,
She Diediii
She left behind her husband who sdored her
* three lovely children.
Reader
Mourn FOR them and for their discOnsOlate father
MOurnll!
For Virtue IS Beauty both lie Buried Here,
Lost 10 this World foreger!!.!!
"COme now and / will show You
what / consider = most appropriate
epitaph, written by man universally
esteemed. You have heard of Father
Dempsey ?" The grave was walled in
with rock. The slab was broken in
three pieces, but we could decipher the
age fity-two and name Caleb Baker,
and these lines
"In this cold tomb so closely walled
Caleb sleeps, worn with slow decay;
In hope he lived. in faith was called
To share the bliss OF heavenly day.
At this point the people streaming
r ...,.,,,.1 a.,